As in every field, technology continues to make itself felt in dentistry and to contribute positively to the treatments carried out in dentistry. Digital dentistry makes it possible to provide dental treatment with fast, modernised and digital methods. Thanks to digital dentistry, which integrates the most advanced technologies of the 21st century, dental treatments are becoming much faster, more innovative and simpler. Digital dentistry methods, known as Cerec and CAD-CAM systems, are widely used, above all in orthodontic treatments, and in processes such as implant treatment and dental prosthesis treatment. In this article you can find the answers to questions such as what digital dentistry is, what CAD-CAM and Cerec systems do and what their benefits are.

What Is Digital Dentistry?

Digital dentistry is also known as digital dental design. At the heart of digital dentistry lies CAD-CAM technology. In this context, to better understand digital dentistry, we first need to look at what CAD-CAM is and what it does.

CAD CAM is a technology that serves to move a product from the theoretical stage to the production stage. CAD-CAM systems are actually a technology found not only in the world of digital dentistry but in many different sectors. At the core of this technology lies the logic of taking a product or object from its abstract stage and making it concrete and bringing it to the level of production. To do this, many different computer programs, technological devices and software are needed.

What Are CAD CAM and Cerec Systems and How Do They Work?

As you can see from its name, the CAD CAM system consists of two different stages: the CAD stage and the CAM stage.

CAD: CAD stands for Computer Aided Design. This stage involves the design of the product that is planned to be created. The design is carried out with the support of computer software. When it comes to dentistry, digital three-dimensional imaging and digital impression design are carried out exactly at this stage. It is the part that represents the software and tangible component of digital dentistry.

CAM: CAM, which stands for Computer Aided Manufacturing, forms the second step of CAD CAM procedures. In this step, all the digital three-dimensional images that have been created start to be made concrete. After the digital dental impression, physical production suited to these measurements begins in the CAM stage. At the end of production, a treatment route is drawn up depending on the procedure to be performed. Cerec 3D dental applications, digitally assisted implant planning or dental prosthesis plans are also planned and put into practice at this stage. CAD-CAM systems are an advanced technology that enables all these design, planning and production systems to be processed as quickly as possible.

How Are Digital Dentistry Applications Performed?

Because it offers the patient a brand-new, healthy and modern mouth and tooth design, CAD CAM technology is regarded as a very successful method in the world of dentistry. Of course, the advantages brought by digital dentistry only become clearer and more understandable when you look at the processes before digital dentistry. For example, before digital dentistry technologies, carrying out a restoration in the mouth and teeth meant an extremely time-consuming and burdensome process. First, an impression of the mouth was taken manually, plaster was poured into the impression, a tooth model was created from scratch, and a tooth design was created on this model using primitive, wax-like materials. When the manufacturing stage of this model was reached, the design was transferred into a special tooth mould and shaped entirely by hand, without the support of any technological or robotic device.

Since digital impression systems came into play, all the stages described as burdensome in this process have disappeared, leaving a much more technological, autonomous treatment process with a lower margin of error. Thanks to digital dentistry technologies, the restoration process has become almost completely mechanised and therefore faster and easier. The impressions and data taken from the mouth and teeth are integrated into computer software with the help of 3D scanners, and for the rest of the design stages, a completely computer-aided production stage follows. With the use of modern smart devices, especially milling machines, the design and production stages are completed quickly and as they should be.

At the core of the CAD CAM and Cerec system lies the logic of three-dimensional imaging. Thanks to 3D optical scanners, cameras are placed inside the patient’s mouth and three-dimensional images of the mouth are taken. These images are then processed through suitable computer software, transferred to a virtual environment and move into production in the digital dental laboratory.

CAD CAM or Cerec application can be integrated into many different areas of dentistry and treatment plans. These include important and common dental treatment methods such as bridges and crowns, inlay and onlay applications, laminate veneers, porcelain tooth renewals, prostheses and implants. The CAD CAM system, which promises great convenience to dentists and orthodontic specialists especially in the world of orthodontics, is also useful in detecting pathology. Thanks to the CAD CAM system, the dentist can notice a suspicious tissue detected in the patient’s teeth or gums and, by sending it to the digital dental laboratory, obtain detailed information about the type of tissue.

What Are the Advantages of CAD CAM and Cerec Technology?

Of course, being technological and innovative is among the features that make the CAD CAM system successful and distinctive. Digital dentistry processes have become widespread and popular, especially recently, as dentists want to offer more practical and effortless orthodontic treatment. Digital dentistry consists of three different stages, digital scanning, digital design and digital production, and brings many benefits with it. Here are some of the advantages of digital dentistry:

It shortens treatment time: One of the biggest advantages that digital dentistry procedures offer both the patient and the dentist is that they shorten treatment time. The planning stage of orthodontic treatment, which as standard is expected to be completed in at least 2–3 visits to the dentist, can be completed in just a single session thanks to digital dentistry. The CAD CAM and Cerec computer software used in the treatment planning stage can create the patient’s entire treatment plan in as little as 2 hours, unless any unusual situation arises. This is an important and great advantage for the dentist at least as much as for the patient.

It uses ecologically suitable materials: Tooth designs obtained with the Cerec application are the kind that reassure patients who may have aesthetic concerns during orthodontic treatment. Digital tooth designs, created using entirely ecological and organic materials, are solutions with the most natural-looking appearance and create an aesthetic look. The materials used by the CAD CAM system in the production stage are biologically safe, so they do not pose any harm or danger to the patient’s health.

It goes through more innovative processes than traditional tooth design methods: In digital tooth design processes, wax and similar materials are not used as in traditional tooth design. Instead, measurements are taken at a micro level with high-resolution, laser-assisted cameras, and the process is no longer tiring and laborious.

The margin of error is minimised because there is no human factor: Since all CAD CAM processes are autonomous and there is no “human” factor involved, the risk of human-related errors is minimised.